Kyrsten Sinema Describes Democrats As ‘Jello-Eating Old Men’ And Reveals Why She Stopped Going To ‘Silly’ Luncheons Where Everyone Talks About ‘How Good They Are’
- Sinema says weekly lunches with Democrats are “ridiculous”
- He stopped attending when he became independent.
- He joked about rich gelatin diets, even though the oldest Republican is 89 years old.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is cracking old age jokes about some of her geriatric Senate colleagues, after leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent, while perhaps even moving closer to the Republican Party.
Sinema, 46, resigned from the caucuses with the Democrats. Though she’s still aligned with them for organizational purposes, which hasn’t affected the size of the Democratic margin and keeps her on four committees, including two that are of interest to the business community.
These are the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. But there’s no sign he’s missing the weekly luncheons with Senate Democrats.
“The old guys are eating Jell-O, everyone’s talking about how cool they are,” Sinema told a group of lobbyists recently. political informed.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, 46, has been joking with lobbyists about her former classmates’ advancing age at weekly Senate Democratic luncheons. She stopped going when she became independent.
‘I really don’t need to be there for that. That’s an hour and a half twice a week that I can make up,” she joked.
He called the weekly luncheons, where party members meet separately inside the ornate Senate chamber, “ridiculous” and “silly.”
She said she spends her time doing “productive work, so I’ve been able to lead every bipartisan vote that’s happened in the last two years,” after tormenting the White House over the Cut Inflation Act, but then toasting a critical prop after forcing changes. .
The ironman runner who has taught a spinning class kept her routine with a regional flavor.
“Northerns and Westerners put cool whip in their Jell-O, and Southerners put cottage cheese,” he said.
He was even “more cutting” with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, with groups of Republican senators.
Democrats began the year fearing that Sinema could go full-on to the Republican Party, even though they would retain power with their 51-vote majority and the vice presidency.
Sinema has defied some Senate traditions with her fashion choices. She says she’s glad to miss the luncheons where party members discuss policy and strategy on the food served.
Outgoing Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is 89 years old. Also Republican Senator Charles Grassley, Republican of Iowa.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), 81, has been courting Sinema
She wants to code Roe v. Wade, so it’s unclear if she would find a better place at Republican luncheons.
There are also some aging Republicans, including fellow candidate Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, who is 89 years old. He is the same age as retired Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, though Grassley was just re-elected to a six-year term.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the minority leader who would like to bring her in and who is often seen talking on the floor, is 81 and recently suffered a concussion when he fell at a fundraiser. in the former Trump. hotel in DC
The jokes could alienate Democrats, though they aren’t in a position to do much about it. Arizona Rep. Rubén Gallego is challenging Sinema in the primary, putting party leaders in a bind.
However, the routine could be a hit with donors. Sinema started the year with $8 million in her fundraising account and raised $800,000 in the last quarter of 2022, fueled by donations from the energy and financial sectors.
